Friday, May 10, 2024
DIGGING: Trinity Rousseau came up with plenty of digs to help Tolar set up its offense.
POWER ATTACK: Tolar hitter Maddie Rue (17) brings the thunder as she prepares to attack the De Leon Lady Bearcats’ defenders.
TOLAR – Tolar’s volleyball players wanted it more Tuesday night as the Lady Rattlers topped a scrappy De Leon squad in four sets, 25-19, 22-25, 25-15, 25-23.
The win improved Tolar’s record to 5-6 on the season, and like the rest of coach Misty Rhodes’ schedule, it was a tough match because that’s the way she wants it.
Her Lady Rattlers want it, too.
Up 24-19 in the fourth set, Tolar was super aggressive in its frontline attack and went for the knockout blow time after time, only to have De Leon creep back to within 24-23.
Rhodes called a timeout and gathered her players together.
Did she tell her players to back off?
“Honestly, I just asked them who wanted it,” Rhodes said. “They all said they did. We wanted that kill, and the girls were emotional about getting it.”
Feeding off the sets made by Justyce Vanlandingham, Tolar’s outside hitters Maddie Rue and Haylee Burt kept De Leon off balance most of the night.
The Lady Rattlers’ only real struggles came in the second set when De Leon chose to play a little softer and tried to take advantage of Tolar’s aggressiveness. Rather than setting up a spike, the Bearcats elected to try and drop the ball just over the net and force the defenders out of the backcourt. Then it was a case of flipping the ball to an open spot.
“We struggled a little bit with that, but then we made some adjustments,” Burt said after the win.
Tolar rarely struggles when senior Baili Deaver hits the service line, and it’s something her coach has noticed.
“I think we tend to look toward Baili because she is a senior and a leader out there on the court,” Rhodes said. “The girls feel comfortable with her taking the lead.”
Tolar got some handy digs from Trinity Rousseau, and she quickly put the ball where Vanlandingham could set up the Lady Rattler’s attack. The setter kept the Lady Bearcats guessing all night long and also dropped balls across the net with some awesome no-look moves.
Lainy Henderson, Ava LeCluyse and Kodi Gay added to Tolar’s attack and defense to round out the win.
Tolar will return home on Sept. 7 to take on Three Way High School in a 6 p.m. match before heading out for three straight matches on the road at Bluff Dale, Hico and Whitney.
Russell@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066 Ext. 231
